Wheel-rim-jointing machine.



G. A. ENSIGN.

WHEEL RIM JOINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED un. e, 1912.

1,087,748. Patented sepn.3,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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-. ATTUHNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGIAPH 50.. WAIHINGTGN. D. C. l

G. A. ENSIGN. WHEEL EIM JOINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1912.

1,037.748. Y Patented sept.3,1912.

4 SHEBTS-SHEE-T 2.

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A TTOHNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN C0.. WASHmu'roN. D. cr

G.' A. ENSIGN. WHEEL EIM JOINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1912.

1,037,748. A f l Patented sept.3,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

G. A. `ENSIGN.

WHEEL RIM JOINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1912.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

GEORGE A. ENSIGN, OF DIIEIZEIANCE OHIO, kASSIGNOR TO DEFIANCEMACHINEWORKS,

OF DEFIANCE, OHIO.

WHEEL-RIM-JOINTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters atent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

Application led April 6, 1912. Serial No. 688,881.

The invention relates to woodworking machines, and its ob]ect is toprovide a new and improved wheel rim `iointing or truing machine moreespecially designed for ointing or truing one side of the wheel lrimstock to render the said side true with the inner surface of the stockso that any inequalities due to bending or shrinkage are compensated forand the stock is provided with a true working surface to permit ofsubsequently feeding the stock correctly through a planer to insure theperfect formation of perfect wheel rims.

For the purpose mentioned use is made of a revoluble cutter head havingcutting edges extending` in the same plane, a rim stock support havingmovement toward and from the said cutter head and provided with spacedsupporting means arranged at a right angle to the face of the cutterhead and adapted to support the rim stock at the inner surface and atopposite sides thereof, and a presser device adapted to engage the rimstock eXteriorly at the middle thereof, that is, approximately at apoint midway between the supported points so vthat the rim stock isequalized and one side thereof is presented to the cutters of the cutterhead to reduce the said side perfectly true relatively to the inner faceof the rim stock.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings foiiniiig a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure l is a perspective view of the wheel rim jointing or truingmechine; Fig.

2 isa cross section4 of the same; Fig. 3 is al sectional front elevationof the same on thel line 3M?) of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan'view of the same on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional frontelevation of the same on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. f5 is a frontelevation of the saddle and the supporting plates arranged for truingshort stock on both sides to reduce the stock to a predetermined width;Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same; and Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectionalelevation of the same on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7. l

Vheel rim stock after being bent into approximately seinicircular shapeby a suitable bending machine is liable to become twisted or otherwisedistorted -owing to the tendencyT of thestock to straighten out or toAshrink or to do both. The truing or jointing machine presently to bedescribed in detail is usedffor equalizing the kdistorted rim stock `andto provide the same with a working side which has been reduced so as tobe true to the inner surface of the stock so that the rim stock cansubsequently be fed along the said working side through a rim planer andthrough other machines to ultimately insure the production of accuratewheel rims.

The improved wheel rim ointing or truing machine is mounted on asuitably constructed frame A. in which is journaled a cutter headspindle B carrying a cutter head C provided at its face withradially-disposed cutters G, the cutting edges of which extendapproximatelyin the same vertical The cutter head spindle B is proplane.vided with fast and loose pulleys D connected by a belt with othermachinery for imparting a rotary motion to the spindle B and the cutterhead C, the belt being adapted to be shifted from the fast to the loosepulley and vice versa by a suitable belt shifter E under the control ofthe operator and mounted to swing on the frame A.

The rim stock F bentinto approximately semicircular shape and of a widthfor producing a number of wheel rim sections is placed with its innersurface on spaced supporting plates Gr and Gr arranged parallel to eachother and standing at a right angle to the face of the cutter head C,andthe top of the rim stock F is enga ed by a presser device, preferablyin the orin of an arm H, bearing down on the top of the rim stock F at apoint approximately intermediate the supported points of the innervfaceof the rim stock F so that the rim stock F is practically equalized onthe supporting plates Gr and Gr and consequently the inner surface ofthe rim stock is in a true position relative to the face of the cutterhead C so that when the rim stock F is fed against the knives C thelatter trim the corresponding side of the rim stock directly through tothe inner surface thereof thus providing a true workl 0 ing surface topermit of subsequently feeding the stock correctly through a planer toinsure the formation of accurate wheel rim sections.

The supporting plates G and G are preferably provided with roughenedfaces and are held in grooves formed in blocks l'. and I secured bybolts l2 to the top of a slide J provided at the under side withbearings J mounted to slide on guideways K on top of a saddle K providedat its rear with a bearing K2 (see Figs. 2 and 4) engaging a guideway A,formed on the main frame A. The blocks I and l are adjustable toward orfrom each other on the top of the slide J and the blocks are for thispurpose provided at their under sides with tongues l2 engaging acorresponding groove J2 on the top of the slide J see F iO. 2), and thebolts I2 extend through elongated slots I4 in the said blocks (see Figs.l and 7). By the arrangement described the supporting plates G and G canbe adjusted to accurate position on opposite sides of the longitudinalcenter of the machine.

In order to feed the rim stock F in engagement with the cutting edges ofthe cutters C the following arrangement is made: On the under side ofthe slide J is secured a rack J3 in mesh near its outer end with apinion JA1 secured on a shaft J 5 liournaled in suitable bearingsarranged on a bracket K3 bolted or otherwise fastened to one side of thesaddle K. A handle JG is attached to the outer end of the shaft J 5 topermit t-he operator to impart a turning motion to the shaft J 5 andthus cause the pinion J 4 to impart a traveling motion to the rack J 2and consequently to the slide J to feed the stock F toward the face ofthe cutter head Cl or away from the same after the inner side of thestock F is'reduced by the action of the cutter C.

The saddle K is adapted to be raised or lowered according. to thediameter of the rim stock to be trued. For the purpose mentioned theunder side of the saddle K is provided with a bearing K3 (see Figs. 2and 3) in which is mounted to turn the head L of a vertical screw rod Lscrewing in a nut L2 mounted to turn in a bearing A2 bolted or otherwisesecured to the main frame A, anden the said nut L2 is secured a gearwheel L2 in mesh with a pinion L4 attached to the inner end of ahorizontallydisposed shaft L5 journaled in the bracket A2. rlhe outerend of the shaft L5 is provided with a hand wheel LG under the controlof the operator to permit the latter t-o turn the shaft L5 with a viewto rotate the nut L2 and thus cause an up or down move- 4ment to thescrew rod L and consequentlyv to the saddle K according to the directionin which the hand wheel LG is turned at the time.

The clamping or presser arm H is provided at its forward end with aroughened surface H adapted to contact with the top of the rim stock Fsupported on the plates G and G. The arm H is screwed or otherwisesecured on the upper threaded end H2 of a post H3 mounted to slide upand down in a bearing J l forming part of the slide J and the said postH3 is provided with a keyway Hat engaged by a key Js held on the bearingJ 7 (see Fig. 7)y so that the post H3 is held against turning but isfree to slide up and down in the bearing J 7. The post H3 is providedwith a rack H5 in mesh with a gear wheel N secured on a shaft Njournaled in va bearing J 9 forming part of the bearing JT,a11don oneouter end of the shaft N 1s secured a handle N2 adapted to be taken holdof by the operator for imparting a turning motion to the shaft Nl so asto cause the gear wheel N to move the rack Hs and with it the post H3and the arm H up or down according to the forward or backward swingingmotion given to the handle l 2..

By the arrangement described the presser arm. H can be moved downward infirm cona turning motion to the shaft N so as to equalize the same onthe supporting plates ASio G G at the same time securel clam nino' 7 bthe rim stock F in position to the rim stock in place while bodilyfeeding the same to the cutters C of the cutter head C. rlhe presser armH is adapted to be locked in the adjusted position by the use of Y alocking bolt O mounted to slide in a bearing N3 held on the handle N2and the said locking bolt t) is adapted to engage a toothed w'heelOsecured on the bearing J 2 as plainly indicated in Fig. 5. The upper endof t-he bolt O is connected with a hand lever 02 fulcrumed at O2 on thehandle N2 and adapted to be actuated by the operator to move the bolt Oin or out of engagement with the toothed wheel O. that the bolt O iswithdrawn from the toothed wheel O during the time a swinging motion isgiven to the handle N2 when the handle has been moved to the desiredsecurely hold 2 ioo los

l t is understood position, that is, at the time the presser arm Y H is1n engagement with the rim stock F then the lever O2 is caused to movethe bolt O downward into engagement with the fixed toothed wheel O tolock the parts in position.

The operation is as follows: The approximately semicircular rim stock Fis placed in position on the supporting plates G and G at the time thepresser and clamping arm H is in a raised position and then the operatorunlocks the handle N2 and swings the same in the direction of the arrowa so as to cause the arm H to move downward into contact with the top ofthe rim stock F to exert a downward pressure on the said stock and thusequalize the same on the supporting plates G and G. It will be noticedthat by the arrangement described the rim stock F is securely clamped inposition on the supporting plates G and G and the arm H is lockedagainst movement for the time being by the bolt O engaging the toothedwheel O. The operator now imparts an upward swinging motion to thehandle JG so that the pinion J4 imparts a traveling motion to the rack J3 and consequently to the slide J to move the supporting plates G and G,the arm H and the rim stock F inwardly toward the face of the' cutterhead C so that the cutters C finally cut the inner side of the rim stockF to reduce thesame absolutely true to the inner surface of the rimstock and when this has been done the handle Jy is swung downward toretard the slide J and the parts carried thereby, after which the handleN2 is unlocked and swung in the reverse direction of the arrow a to movethe arm H upward out of engagement with the rim stock F which can now beremoved from the machine and replaced by another one to be trued.

When it is desired to true short rim stock and on both sides, thefollowing arrangement is made, special reference being had to Figs. 6, 7and 8: The supporting plates G and G instead of being attached to theouter ends of the blocks I and I are I fastened in grooves on the top ofthe said blocks I and I and on the outer ends of the plates G and G aresecured stops P by the use of set screws P, and each stop is providedwith a toothed bar P2 fitting into the upper toothed face of thecorresponding plate G or G, the bar being pressed firmly in place by aset screw P3, as plainly indicated in Fig. 8. The rim stock F is placedin position on the plates G, G and clamped thereto by the use of theclamping arm H, as previously explained, and then the slide J is movedtoward the face of the cutter head C so that the cutters C reduce oneside of the stock F to the inner surface of the rim stock F. Vlhen thishas been done the slide J is returned and the arm H is raised to rpermitof reversing ythe stock F on the plates G and G and abutting the truedside of the rim stock on the stops P, after which the arm Hl is moveddownward to clamp the rim stock F again in position. rlhe slide J is`now again moved toward the face of the cutter head C so that the cuttersC reduce the other side ofthe rimy stock true to the opposite side andto the inner surface of the rim stock. A stop screw Q screws in theforward end of the saddle K and is adapted to be engaged by the hub ofthe wheel O to limit the movement of the slide J toward the face ofthecutter head C so that the stock F is reduced to a predetermined width.After the rim stock F has been trued at both sides relative to the innersurface of the stock, the latter is removed from .the machine andanother one placed in position thereon, and the above-describedoperation is repeated to reduce bot-h sides of the stock true to theinner surface thereof and to a predetermined width.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In a wheel rim truing machine for truing one side of the rim stockrelative to the inner face thereof, the combination with a revolublecutter head having cutting edges extending in the same plane, of a rimstock support having movement toward and from the said cutter head andprovided with spaced supporting means at a right angle to the face ofthe said cutter head and adapted to support the rim stock at the innersurface and at opposite sides thereof, and a pressure device adapted toengage the rim stock exteriorly at the middle thereof.

2. In a wheel rim truing machine for truing one side of the rim stockrelative to the inner face thereof, the combination with a revolublecutter head having its cutting edges extending in the same plane, of asaddle provided with spaced parallel supports ata right angle to thesaid plane and adapted to support the rim stock at the inner surface andat points between the ends thereof, a clamping device adapted to enga-gethe top of t-he rim stock at a point approximately half way between thesupported points, the said clamping device being adjustably mounted onthe ysaid saddle, means for raising and lowering the said clampingdevice on the said saddle, and means for moving the said supports towardand from the said cutter head.

3. In a wheel rim truing machine for truing one side of the rim stockrelative to the inner face thereof, the combination with a revolublecutter head having its cutting edges extending in the same plane, of asaddle provided with spaced parallel supports at a right angle to thesaid plane and adapted to support the rim stock at the inner surface andat points between the ends thereof, a clamping device adapted to engagethe top of the rim stock at a point approximately half way between thesupported points, thek said clamping device being adjustably mounted onthe said saddle, means for raising and lowering the said clamping deviceon the said saddle, means for moving the said supports toward and fromthe said cutter head, and means for raising and lowering the said saddleindependent of the said means for raising and lowering the said clampingdevice. f

4l. In a wheel rim truing machine for truing One'end of the rim stockrelative to the inner face thereof, the combination with a cutter headprovided on its face with a cut-ter, the edges of which extend approxi'mately in the same vertical plane, of a saddle in front of the face ofthe cut-ter head, means for raising and lowering the said saddle, spacedsupporting plates on the said saddle and standing at a right angle tothe face of the said cutter head, the said supporting plates beingadapted to support the rim stock at the inner face and adjacent the endsthereof, a clamping arm mounted on the saddle and adapted to engage therim stock exteriorly and at the top thereof at a point approximatelymidway between the points of support of the rim stock, means for movingthe said. clamping arm up and down independent of ftlhe up and downmovement given to the said saddle,l and means for moving the saidsupporting plates on the saddle toward and from the face of the said.cutter head.

5. 1n a wheel truing machine for truing one side of the rim stockrelative to the inner face thereofg the combination with a revolublecutter head provided at its face with cutters having their cutting edgesextending approximately in the same vertical plane, of a saddle in frontof the said cutter head, means for raising and lowering the said saddle,a slide mounted tov slide on the said saddle7 means for moving the saidslide toward or from the face of the said cutter head, supporting'platesheld on the sides of the said slide and adapted to support the rimstock at 'the inner face thereof7 a presser arm adapted to enf; ce thetop of the rim stock and provided with a vertical post mounted to slideup and down on the said slide, and manually-controlled means engagingthe said post for moving the latter up and down independent of the saidmeans for raising and lowering the saddle.

6. A wheel rim truing machine provided wit-h spaced parallel supportingplates adapted to be engaged by yhe inner surface of a rim stock, and apressure device adapted to engage the rim stock exteriorly at a pointhalf way between the points of support of the rim stock on the saidsupporting plates, and means for moving the said pressure device in andout of engage ment with the rim stock on the said supporting plates.

7. A wheel rim truing machine provided with a saddle having guideways, aslide mounted to slide on the said guideways and provided with spacedsupporting plates for engagement by the inner surface of a rim stock tobe trued, a clamping arm mounted to move up and down on the said slideand adapted to engage the top of the rim stock,

and manually-controlled means for moving the said clamping arm up anddown.

8. A wheel rim truing machine provided with a saddle having guideways, aslide mounted to slide on the said guideways and provided with spacedsupporting plates for engagement by the inner surface of a rim stock tobe trued, a clamping arm extending horizontally and adapted to engagethe rim stock exteriorly at a point half way between the points ofsupport of the rim stock on the said. supporting plates, a post providedwith a rack and carrying the said clamping arm, the said post beingmounted to slide up and down on the said slide, a transverse shaftjournaled on the said slide, a pinion on the said shaft engaging thesaid rack, and a handle Yon the said shaft for turning the latter toraise and lower the said post and its arm.

9. A wheel rim truing machine provided with a saddle *having guideways,a slide mounted to slide on the said guideways and provided with spacedsupporting plates for engagement by the inner surface of a rim stock tobe trued, a clamping arm extending horizontally and adapted to engagethe rim stock exteriorly at a point half way between the points ofsupport of the rim stock on the said supporting plates, a post providedwith a rack and carrying the said clamping arm, the said post beingmounted to slide up and down on the said slide, a transverse shaftjournaled on the said slide, a pinion on the said shaft engaging thesaid rack, a handle on the 4said shaft for turning the latter to raiseand lower the said post and its arm, and a lockingdevice for locking thesaid arm in the adjusted position. y

l0. A wheel rim truing machine provided with a saddle having guideways,a slide mounted to slide on the said guideways and provided with spacedsupporting plates for engagement by the inner surface of a rim stock tobe trued, adjustable stops secured to the said supporting plates,limiting means between the saddle and the said slide to limit thefeeding movement of the latter, a clamping arm mounted to move up anddown on the said slide and adapted to enthe top of the rim stock, andmanually-controlled means for moving the said clamping arm up and down.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE A. ENSIGN. Witnesses F. E. HALL, E. H. FREDERICK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

